Control system

Abstract

To provide a control system that has improved robustness in determining whether a terminal may pass through a passage.SOLUTION: An acquisition unit 110 acquires information on signals received by radios 24 via an interface 13. A first area monitoring unit 111 determines whether angles of signals that were received by both of the radios 24 each satisfy a first condition. A second area monitoring unit 112 determines whether the angle and strength of a signal received by one of the radios 24 satisfies a second condition and the strength of a signal received by the other satisfies a third condition. A identification unit 113 acquires monitoring results from the first area monitoring unit 111 and the second area monitoring unit 112, and when it is recognized that a portable terminal 3 exists in a monitoring area, checks whether there is a single portable terminal 3. A passage availability determination unit 114 transmits recognition information for the portable terminal 3 to a server device 4 for inquiry, and determines whether the portable terminal 3 can pass through a passage on the basis of the result of the inquiry.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a control system that controls radio devices that receive signals to determine whether or not passage, entry, or exit is permitted. [Background technology]

[0002] Control systems that control radio devices that receive signals to determine whether or not to allow passage or entry / exit are used in various facilities where paid services are provided, such as railways, theaters, and event venues.

[0003] The control systems used in conventional ticket gates determine whether or not a pedestrian is permitted to pass through by, for example, inserting a medium such as a ticket or commuter pass handed over by a pedestrian attempting to pass through the ticket gate into the device and reading information from a magnetic film applied or vapor-deposited on the medium. However, because the equipment that transports magnetic recording media such as tickets within the device is prone to malfunction and the process of inserting and handing over the media is cumbersome, control systems have recently begun to use wireless devices instead of magnetic recording media as the components of tickets and other electronic passes.

[0004] For example, in recent years, railway ticket gate systems that use RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) have become widespread.NFC (Near Field Communication), a type of RFID, has become standard on smartphones, and in Japan in particular, it is now possible to use ticket gates using NFC on smartphones.

[0005] However, to determine whether a person is permitted to pass through a gate, it is necessary to identify exactly one person who is about to pass through that gate. For this reason, the above-mentioned conventional technology uses, for example, NFC, which is an RFID that has a communication distance limited to approximately 10 centimeters.

[0006] However, limiting the communication distance in this way makes it cumbersome for pedestrians to go through a gate by having to find their electronic pass from their clothing, bag, etc., pick it up, and then hold it over the NFC radio in the ticket gate, a series of actions.

[0007] Therefore, instead of limiting the communication range to one person, a control system has been devised that detects passersby over a wider range along with their positions.

[0008] Patent document 1 discloses a gate control system that transmits a query radio wave to a predetermined query range on at least one of the first area side or second area side of the entrance / exit of the gate body, and includes an antenna that receives a response radio wave that is transmitted when the query radio wave is received by a mobile terminal carried by a user, and a display control unit that outputs an instruction to a display device to display a query range image that shows the query range on the road surface.

[0009] Patent document 2 discloses a location determination system that determines the location of a personal mobile terminal based on a difference in strength between location determination signals received by a plurality of first location determination receivers arranged at a first position separated by a first distance from the personal mobile terminal, and a plurality of second location determination receivers arranged at a second position separated by a second distance longer than the first distance from the personal mobile terminal.

[0010] Patent document 3 discloses a location confirmation system that acquires first authentication information via a first wireless communication device, acquires second authentication information via a second wireless communication device, acquires location information via a third wireless network communication device, and calculates the location of the pass authentication terminal using the authentication result obtained by authenticating the pass authentication terminal using the acquired first authentication information and / or second authentication information, the location of the first wireless communication device and / or the location of the second wireless communication device, and the location information acquired via a location information acquisition device.

[0011] Patent document 4 discloses a communication system that transmits a request to establish wireless communication conforming to a predetermined standard via a second wireless communication interface having multiple antennas to a first wireless communication interface having a single antenna when angle information and radio wave intensity information satisfy predetermined conditions. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0012] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2023-69664 [Patent Document 2] WO2020 / 080314 publication [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2022-133494 [Patent Document 4] Patent Publication No. 2021-111962 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0013] Methods for obtaining location information of a terminal based on a signal emitted by the terminal mainly include a method using the signal strength and a method using the signal arrival angle. The above-mentioned Patent Documents 1 and 3 do not mention the signal arrival angle. Furthermore, the above-mentioned Patent Document 2 describes trilateration using the term triangulation. Therefore, these technologies are considered to determine the distance to the terminal by measuring the signal strength without measuring the signal arrival angle.

[0014] On the other hand, the technology described in Patent Document 4 uses angle information and radio wave intensity information to determine whether a mobile communication terminal is located in a specific area near an image forming device. However, this technology wirelessly communicates with the mobile communication terminal using only a single antenna equipped on a circuit located in a front area near the operation panel of the image forming device, which poses a problem in terms of robustness in locating the terminal. That is, because this technology uses only one antenna, it may not be able to detect the terminal if the signal propagation path to the antenna is blocked by a human body or other object. Furthermore, this technology does not function without angle information and radio wave intensity information, and may not be able to detect the terminal if either of these information is lost. On the other hand, when locating a terminal using angle information alone, the locating range may be narrowed.

[0015] One object of the present invention is to provide a control system that improves robustness in determining whether or not a terminal can pass through a passageway, compared to a system that does not have this configuration. [Means for solving the problem]

[0016] The present invention provides, as a first aspect, a control system having two radio devices arranged on either side of an aisle and each receiving a signal from a terminal, and a control device that determines whether or not a terminal that transmitted a signal is allowed to pass through the aisle when the angle of the signal received by both of the radio devices satisfies a first condition, or when the angle and strength of the signal received by one of the radio devices satisfies a second condition and the strength of the signal received by the other satisfies a third condition, if there is only one terminal that transmitted the signal.

[0017] According to the control system of the first aspect, it is possible to improve the robustness in determining whether or not a terminal can pass through a passageway, compared to a system not having this configuration.

[0018] In the control system of the first aspect, a configuration may be adopted as a second aspect, in which the first condition is a condition in which the angles of the signals received by both of the radio devices are both within a first range, the second condition is a condition in which the angle of the signal received by one of the radio devices is within a first range and the propagation distance according to the strength of the signal is less than a first threshold, and the third condition is a condition in which the propagation distance according to the strength of the signal received by the other of the radio devices is less than a second threshold that is smaller than the first threshold.

[0019] According to the control system of the second aspect, the condition regarding the angle of the signal can be made common to both the first condition and the second condition.

[0020] In the control system of the second aspect, a third aspect may be adopted in which the control device determines whether or not a terminal that transmitted a signal is allowed to pass through the passage when the angles of the signals received by both of the radio devices are within a second range that is closer to the entrance of the passage than the first range, if there is only one terminal that transmitted the signal.

[0021] According to the control system of the third aspect, it is possible to add an area on the entrance side of the passage where the position of the terminal can be identified.

[0022] In the control system of any one of the first to third aspects, a fourth aspect may be adopted in which the control device has a gate provided in the passage, and the control device controls the opening and closing of the gate based on the determined yes or no.

[0023] According to the control system of the fourth aspect, it is possible to control the opening and closing of the gate based on a more robust determination of whether a terminal is passing through a passageway, compared to a system not having this configuration. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0024] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a control system 9 according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2]FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the control device 1. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a server device 4. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a ticket DB 421. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a mobile terminal 3 and a gate device 2. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a plan view of the gate device 2. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the control device 1. [Figure 8] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a first region R1. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a second region R2R. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a monitoring area. [Figure 11] FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the operation of each component of the control system 9. [Figure 12] 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a condition determination operation of the control device 1. FIG. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an additional region R3. [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a monitoring area to which an additional area R3 has been added. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] <Embodiment> <Control system configuration> 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a control system 9 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The control system 9 includes a control device 1, a gate device 2, a mobile terminal 3, a server device 4, and a communication line 5.

[0026] A passerby U is a person who intends to pass through the passage Pa. The portable terminal 3 is a terminal device that the passerby U carries in a pocket or the like, and transmits a carrier wave carrying an information signal.

[0027] The gate device 2 is installed in the passage Pa. The gate 25 is a component of the gate device 2. The gate device 2 and the control device 1 detect a carrier wave transmitted from the portable terminal 3 carried by the passerby U to determine whether the passerby U is permitted to pass through the gate 25 installed in the passage Pa. If the passerby U does not have the authority to pass through, the gate device 2 closes the gate to prevent the passerby U from passing. On the other hand, if the passerby U has the authority to pass through, the gate device 2 opens the gate to allow the passerby U to pass through.

[0028] The carrier wave transmitted by the mobile terminal 3 may be an audible sound, an ultrasonic wave, a light, or the like, but the mobile terminal 3 shown in Fig. 1 transmits radio waves as the carrier wave. This mobile terminal 3 is, for example, a wearable device or a smartphone equipped with a BLE (Bluetooth (registered trademark) Low Energy) function, and transmits BLE advertisements.

[0029] The control device 1 is a device, such as a computer, that controls the gate device 2. The control device 1 shown in FIG.

[0030] The server device 4 is a device that stores ticket data of the passerby U associated with the mobile terminal 3 and provides it to the control device 1 via the communication line 5. The ticket data is data that indicates an electronic ticket (electronic pass) that permits the passerby U to pass through the passage Pa.

[0031] The communication line 5 is a line that communicatively connects the control device 1 and the server device 4 by wire or wirelessly. The communication line 5 shown in Fig. 1 also communicatively connects the mobile terminal 3 and the server device 4 by wireless. The communication line 5 may be, for example, a LAN (Local Area Network), a WAN (Wide Area Network), the Internet, an intranet, or a combination thereof.

[0032] <Control device configuration> Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the control device 1. The control device 1 shown in Fig. 2 has a processor 11, a memory 12, and an interface 13. These are connected to each other so that they can communicate with each other via, for example, a bus.

[0033] The memory 12 includes a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a solid state drive, a hard disk drive, etc., and stores computer programs (hereinafter simply referred to as programs).

[0034] The processor 11 controls the control device 1 by reading and executing a program from the memory 12. The processor 11 is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The processor 11 may also be, for example, an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), or may include an FPGA. The processor may also have an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) or other programmable logic device, and may perform control using these.

[0035] The interface 13 is a communication circuit that connects the control device 1 to other external devices, etc., by wire or wirelessly. The interface 13 may also connect the control device 1 to various external devices, such as a server device 4, via a communication line 5 so that the control device 1 can communicate with them.

[0036] <Server device configuration> Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the server device 4. The server device 4 shown in Fig. 3 includes a processor 41, a memory 42, and an interface 43. These are connected to each other via, for example, a bus so that they can communicate with each other.

[0037] The processor 41 controls the server device 4 by reading and executing a program from the memory 42. The processor 41 is, for example, a CPU. The processor 41 may also be, for example, an FPGA or may include an FPGA. The processor may also have an ASIC or other programmable logic device and perform control using these.

[0038] The interface 43 is a communication circuit that connects the server device 4 to other external devices, etc., via a wired or wireless connection. The interface 43 may communicably connect the server device 4 to various external devices, such as the control device 1 and the mobile terminal 3, via, for example, a communication line 5.

[0039] The memory 42 has a RAM, a ROM, a solid state drive, a hard disk drive, etc., and stores programs. The memory 42 shown in FIG.

[0040] <Ticket DB configuration> 4 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the ticket DB 421. The ticket DB 421 is a database that stores the above-mentioned ticket data. The ticket DB 421 shown in FIG. 4 has a mobile terminal correspondence table 4211 and a ticket data table 4212.

[0041] The mobile terminal correspondence table 4211 is a table that associates the items of mobile terminal ID and ticket ID. The mobile terminal ID is identification information of the mobile terminal 3. The ticket ID is identification information of the ticket data. This ticket ID identifies the ticket data given to the passerby U who owns the mobile terminal 3 identified by the mobile terminal ID. In other words, the ticket ID is authentication information related to the passage of the passerby U. This mobile terminal correspondence table 4211 stores one ticket ID for one mobile terminal ID. Note that the mobile terminal correspondence table 4211 may store two or more ticket IDs for one mobile terminal ID.

[0042] The ticket data table 4212 is a table associated with each ticket ID listed in the mobile terminal correspondence table 4211, and stores the contents of the ticket data identified by that ticket ID for each item. The ticket data table 4212 shown in Fig. 4 is a table associated with the ticket ID "T11," and stores items such as "expiration date," "section," "amount," and "status."

[0043] For example, when the processor 41 of the server device 4 receives an inquiry from the control device 1 about a certain mobile terminal ID, the processor 41 refers to the ticket DB 421 and identifies the ticket ID corresponding to this mobile terminal ID. Then, the processor 41 reads the expiration date, section, amount, status, etc. from the ticket data table 4212 corresponding to the identified ticket ID and processes the inquiry.

[0044] If two or more ticket IDs are stored for one mobile terminal ID, the server device 4 may determine the ticket ID indicating one ticket data to be used for the transaction in accordance with a predetermined rule. For example, this rule may be that if two or more ticket IDs are associated with types such as "commuter pass" and "deposit," the commuter pass is used preferentially if the section to be used is within the range of the commuter pass section.

[0045] <Configuration of mobile terminal and gate device> Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the mobile terminal 3 and the gate device 2. The mobile terminal 3 shown in Fig. 5 is a smartphone or the like, and includes a processor 31, a memory 32, an interface 33, an operation unit 34, and a display unit 35. These are connected to each other via a bus, for example, so that they can communicate with each other.

[0046] The processor 31 controls the mobile terminal 3 by reading and executing a program from the memory 32. The processor 31 is, for example, a CPU. The processor 31 may also be, for example, an FPGA or may include an FPGA. The processor may also have an ASIC or other programmable logic device and perform control using these.

[0047] The memory 32 includes RAM, ROM, a solid state drive, etc., and stores programs.

[0048] The memory 32 also stores a mobile terminal ID 321. The mobile terminal ID 321 is identification information that identifies the mobile terminal 3, which is the mobile terminal itself. When the mobile terminal 3 is a smartphone, the mobile terminal ID 321 is, for example, a MAC (Media Access Control) address, an IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity), a MEID (Mobile Equipment Identifier), an ICCID (IC Card Identifier), an IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identity), or the like.

[0049] The operation unit 34 includes operation buttons, a keyboard, a touch panel, a mouse, and other operators for issuing various instructions, and receives operations and sends signals according to the operation content to the processor 31. These operations include, for example, pressing keys on the keyboard and gestures on the touch panel.

[0050] The display unit 35 has a display screen such as a liquid crystal display, and displays images under the control of the processor 31. A transparent touch panel of the operation unit 34 may be placed on top of the display screen. Note that the mobile terminal 3 does not necessarily have the operation unit 34 and the display unit 35. The mobile terminal 3 may be operated by an external device via the interface 33, or may present information to an external device. In this case, the mobile terminal 3 may be a wearable device or terminal device, for example, in the form of a ring, a wristband, or goggles / glasses.

[0051] The interface 33 is a communication circuit that wirelessly connects the mobile terminal 3 to other external devices, etc. The interface 33 may communicably connect the mobile terminal 3 to various external devices via a communication line such as an intranet or the Internet.

[0052] Furthermore, under the control of the processor 31, the interface 33 transmits the mobile terminal ID 321 read from the memory 32 over radio waves. For example, the interface 33 transmits the mobile terminal ID 321 in the above-mentioned advertising signal.

[0053] As described above, the gate device 2 is a device that detects a carrier wave transmitted from the portable terminal 3 carried by a passerby U and determines whether or not the passerby U is permitted to pass. The gate device 2 shown in Fig. 5 includes a processor 21, a memory 22, an interface 23, a wireless device 24, and a gate 25. These are connected to each other so that they can communicate with each other, for example, by a bus.

[0054] The processor 21 controls the gate device 2 by reading and executing a program from the memory 22. The processor 21 is, for example, a CPU. The processor 21 may also be, for example, an FPGA or may include an FPGA. The processor may also have an ASIC or other programmable logic device and perform control using these.

[0055] The interface 23 is a communication circuit that connects the gate device 2 to other external devices, etc., by wire or wirelessly. This interface 23 may communicatively connect the gate device 2 to various external devices via a communication line such as an intranet or the Internet. The interface 23 shown in FIG. 5 communicatively connects the gate device 2 to the control device 1.

[0056] The memory 22 includes RAM, ROM, a solid state drive, a hard disk drive, etc., and stores programs.

[0057] The radio device 24 receives transmission signals such as advertising signals transmitted from the mobile terminal 3. The radio device 24 is configured, for example, with an array antenna. That is, the radio device 24 identifies the direction of arrival of the transmission signals by a so-called AoA (Angle of Arrival) method based on the phase difference between the transmission signals received by each antenna constituting the array antenna.

[0058] The gate device 2 has at least one radio device 24 on each side of the passage Pa in which the gate device 2 is installed. In other words, the gate device 2 has at least two radio devices 24.

[0059] <Gate device configuration layout> The following diagram shows the space in which each component of the gate device 2 is arranged as an xyz right-handed coordinate space. Among the coordinate symbols shown in the diagram, a dot in a circle represents an arrow pointing from the back of the page to the front. The direction along the x-axis in space is called the x-axis direction. Furthermore, within the x-axis direction, the direction in which the x component increases is called the +x direction, and the direction in which the x component decreases is called the -x direction. For the y and z components, the y-axis, +y direction, -y direction, z-axis, +z direction, and -z direction are defined in accordance with the above definitions.

[0060] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a plan view of the gate device 2. That is, FIG. 6 shows the gate device 2 as viewed downward (in the -z direction) from the ceiling side. This gate device 2 is composed of two devices, a right-side device 2R and a left-side device 2L. The right-side device 2R and the left-side device 2L are arranged on either side of a passage Pa. For example, the right-side device 2R shown in FIG. 6 is arranged on the right side as seen from a passerby U passing through the passage Pa in the traveling direction D1. Furthermore, the left-side device 2L shown in FIG. 6 is arranged on the left side as seen from the passerby U.

[0061] Gates 25R and 25L (hereinafter, referred to as gates 25 when there is no need to distinguish between them) shown in FIG. 6 are movable members provided along passage Pa. Gate 25R is provided facing passage Pa in the right-side device 2R. Gate 25L is provided facing passage Pa in the left-side device 2L. Gate 25 is, for example, a plate-like member swingably fixed to a housing by a hinge, and is connected to a drive device controlled by processor 21. This gate 25 is stored parallel to passage Pa when processor 21 allows passage of pedestrian U, and swings to block passage Pa from the left and right when processor 21 prohibits passage of pedestrian U. Gate 25 is provided to block the progress of pedestrian U proceeding along traveling direction D1.

[0062] In other words, the control system 9 having the gate device 2 with this gate 25 is an example of a control system having a gate provided in a passageway.

[0063] 6 (hereinafter, when there is no need to distinguish between them, they will be referred to as wireless devices 24) are provided in the right-side device 2R and the left-side device 2L at positions facing the passage Pa. These wireless devices 24 each receive radio waves from the portable terminal 3.

[0064] That is, the radio devices 24 shown in FIG. 6 are an example of two radio devices that are arranged on either side of an aisle and each receive a signal from a terminal.

[0065] <Functional configuration of the control device> Fig. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of the functional configuration of the control device 1. The processor 11 of the control device 1 reads and executes programs stored in the memory 12, thereby functioning as an acquisition unit 110, a first area monitoring unit 111, a second area monitoring unit 112, an identification unit 113, a passability determination unit 114, and an opening / closing control unit 115 shown in Fig. 7.

[0066] The acquisition unit 110 acquires information about signals received by the radio 24 of the gate device 2 via the interface 13. This information includes strength information indicating the strength of the signal received by the radio 24, angle information indicating the angle of the direction from which the signal arrived, and authentication information carried in the signal itself. When the acquisition unit 110 acquires information about signals received by each of the two radios 24 arranged on either side of the passage, the acquisition unit 110 supplies the acquired information to the first area monitoring unit 111 and the second area monitoring unit 112.

[0067] The first area monitoring unit 111 determines whether the angles of the signals received by both of the two wireless devices 24 satisfy the first condition, based on the information supplied from the acquisition unit 110. If the first area monitoring unit 111 determines that both of these angles satisfy the first condition, it recognizes that the mobile terminal 3 that emitted the above-mentioned signal is present in a first area R1 (described below).

[0068] The second area monitoring unit 112 determines whether the angle and strength of the signal received by one of the two wireless devices 24 satisfy a second condition and whether the strength of the signal received by the other wireless device 24 satisfies a third condition, based on the information supplied from the acquisition unit 110. If the second area monitoring unit 112 determines that the above-mentioned attributes of the signals received by each of the wireless devices 24 satisfy these conditions, it recognizes that the mobile terminal 3 that emitted the above-mentioned signal is present in a second area R2 (described below).

[0069] The identification unit 113 acquires the monitoring results from the first area monitoring unit 111 and the second area monitoring unit 112, and when it is recognized that the mobile terminal 3 that emitted the above-mentioned signal is present in either the first area R1 or the second area R2, it checks whether there is one mobile terminal 3. Then, when it is confirmed that there is one mobile terminal 3, the identification unit 113 identifies the mobile terminal 3 based on the authentication information included in the signal emitted by the mobile terminal 3.

[0070] The passability determination unit 114 transmits the authentication information of the portable terminal 3 identified by the identification unit 113 to the server device 4 via the interface 13 and the communication line 5. Then, the passability determination unit 114 inquires of the server device 4 based on this authentication information whether or not the portable terminal 3 has the authority to pass through the passage Pa, and receives the result of the inquiry. Upon receiving the result of this inquiry, the passability determination unit 114 determines based on the result whether or not the portable terminal 3 is allowed to pass through the passage.

[0071] In other words, the control device having the processor 11 functioning as this passage possibility determination unit 114 is an example of a control device that determines whether a terminal can pass through the passage if there is only one terminal that transmitted a signal, when the angle of the signal received by both of two radio devices that are arranged on either side of an aisle and each receive a signal from a terminal satisfies the first condition, or when the angle and strength of the signal received by one of the radio devices satisfies the second condition and the strength of the signal received by the other satisfies the third condition.

[0072] If the passage of the above-mentioned mobile terminal 3 through the passage Pa is prohibited according to the result of the inquiry received by the passage permission determination unit 114, the opening / closing control unit 115 sends a control signal to the gate device 2 via the interface 13 to close the gate 25.

[0073] That is, the control device having the processor 11 functioning as the opening / closing control unit 115 is an example of a control device that controls the opening / closing of a gate based on whether or not it is possible for a terminal to pass through a passage.

[0074] <First area> 8 is a diagram showing an example of the first region R1. Both the radio 24R and the radio 24L measure the angles of the received signals (also called the arrival angle or reception angle). The processor 21 of the gate device 2 transmits information on these measured angles via the interface 23 to the control device 1 together with information carried in the signals.

[0075] The processor 11 of the control device 1 determines whether the angles of the signals received by both of the two wireless devices 24 satisfy a first condition. In the example shown in Fig. 8, the first condition is that the reception angles of both of the wireless devices 24 are within the angle range v1 (also referred to as the first range) shown in Fig. 8.

[0076] In other words, this first condition is an example of a condition in which the angles of the signals received by both wireless devices are both within the first range.

[0077] When the processor 11 determines that the angles of the signals satisfy the first condition described above, it recognizes that the mobile terminal 3 that emitted the signals is present in the first region R1. The first region R1 is inside a rectangle as shown in FIG. 8 because the reception angles of the signals received by the two wireless devices arranged on either side of the aisle Pa are within the angle range v1.

[0078] <Second area> 9 is a diagram showing an example of the second region R2R. Both the radio 24R and the radio 24L measure the angle and strength of the received signal. The processor 21 of the gate device 2 transmits the measured angle and strength information to the control device 1 via the interface 23, along with the information carried in the signal.

[0079] The processor 11 of the control device 1 determines whether the angle and strength of the signal received by radio 24L, one of the two radio devices 24, satisfy a second condition. In the example shown in Fig. 9, the second condition is that the reception angle of the signal at radio device 24L is within angle range v1 (first range) shown in Fig. 9, and the propagation distance according to the strength of the signal is smaller than distance threshold U1 (also referred to as first threshold).

[0080] Incidentally, there is a correspondence between the "strength" and "propagation distance" of a signal such as a radio wave, and generally, the "signal strength" attenuates in proportion to the square of the "propagation distance." Therefore, when the propagation distance of a signal is less than a first threshold, it means that the strength of the signal exceeds a threshold corresponding to the first threshold. In other words, this second condition is an example of a condition in which the angle of a signal received by one of the wireless devices is within a first range, and the propagation distance corresponding to the strength of the signal is less than the first threshold.

[0081] If the processor 11 determines that the angle and intensity of the signal received by the wireless device 24L satisfy the second condition, it recognizes that the mobile terminal 3 that emitted this signal is present in the partial region R22R. The partial region R22R is located inside a sector as shown in FIG. 9 because the distance from the wireless device 24L to the partial region R22R is less than the distance threshold U1 and the reception angle centered on the wireless device 24L is within the angle range v1.

[0082] The processor 11 of the control device 1 also determines whether the strength of the signal received by the other of the two wireless devices 24, wireless device 24R, satisfies a third condition. In the example shown in Fig. 9, the third condition is that the propagation distance according to the strength of the signal at wireless device 24R is smaller than a distance threshold value U2 (also referred to as a second threshold value). Note that the distance threshold value U2 (second threshold value) shown in Fig. 9 is smaller than the distance threshold value U1 (first threshold value).

[0083] That is, the third condition is an example of a condition in which the propagation distance according to the strength of the signal received by the other wireless device is less than a second threshold value that is smaller than the first threshold value.

[0084] When the processor 11 determines that the strength of the signal received by the wireless device 24R satisfies the third condition, it recognizes that the mobile terminal 3 that emitted this signal is present in the partial area R23R. Since the distance from the wireless device 24R to the partial area R23R is less than the distance threshold U2, the partial area R23R is inside a circle as shown in FIG.

[0085] Then, when the processor 11 recognizes that the mobile terminal 3 exists in the partial region R22R and also in the partial region R23R, the processor 11 recognizes that the mobile terminal 3 exists in the second region R2R. In other words, the second region R2R is an overlapping region of the partial region R22R and the partial region R23R, and corresponds to the intersection of these regions.

[0086] In addition to the second region R2R, the processor 11 also determines a second region R2L (not shown in FIG. 9) that is recognized by switching the positions of the wireless device 24R and the wireless device 24L. The second region R2L is an area that is symmetrical to the second region R2R with respect to the center line of the passage Pa. The second region R2 is the union of the second region R2R and the second region R2L. In other words, the second region R2 is an area that is included in at least either the second region R2R or the second region R2L.

[0087] <Monitoring area> 10 is a diagram showing an example of a monitoring area. The control device 1 monitors whether or not a mobile terminal 3 has entered the monitoring area through the exchange of information with the gate device 2. The monitoring area is the union of a first area R1 and a second area R2. In other words, the monitoring area is an area that is included in at least either the first area R1 or the second area R2.

[0088] <Operation of each component of the control system> Fig. 11 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the operation of each component of the control system 9. As shown in Fig. 11, the mobile terminal 3 transmits radio waves indicating an advertising signal (step S101). The gate device 2 receives the radio waves by the radio device 24 (step S102).

[0089] The gate device 2 transmits the strength information and angle information of the signal received by the wireless device 24 to the control device 1 together with authentication information of the signal (step S103). The control device 1 performs condition determination (described later) of the angle and strength of the signal received by the wireless device 24 based on the content of the transmitted information (step S200).

[0090] If the result of the condition determination indicates that there is only one mobile terminal 3 in the monitoring area that emitted the signal received by the radio 24, the control device 1 extracts the mobile terminal ID of that mobile terminal 3 from the authentication information of the signal (step S104), and queries the server device 4 as to whether or not the mobile terminal 3 identified by this mobile terminal ID is permitted to pass through the passage Pa (step S105).

[0091] The processor 41 of the server device 4 receives an inquiry from the control device 1, collates the mobile terminal ID with the ticket DB 421 in the memory 42, and authenticates the mobile terminal 3 (step S106). Then, the processor 41 notifies the control device 1 of the authentication result (step S107).

[0092] The control device 1 issues a control instruction to the gate device 2 according to the authentication result (step S108). The gate device 2 drives the gate 25 in accordance with the instruction issued from the control device 1 (step S109). As a result, if the content of the signal indicates that passage through the passage Pa is permitted, the passerby U who possesses the portable terminal 3 is permitted to pass through.

[0093] <Controller condition determination operation> 12 is a flow diagram showing an example of the condition determination operation of the control device 1. The control device 1 performs the condition determination in step S200 based on the content of the information transmitted from the gate device 2. This condition determination determines whether or not the mobile terminal 3 that emitted the signal received by the wireless device 24 is the only one present in the monitoring area.

[0094] The processor 11 of the control device 1 determines whether or not the two wireless devices 24 located on either side of the passage Pa in the gate device 2 are receiving a signal based on the content of the transmitted information (step S201). If it is determined that the two wireless devices 24 are not receiving a signal (step S201; NO), the processor 11 returns the process to step S201 and waits until additional information is transmitted from the gate device 2.

[0095] On the other hand, when it is determined that two wireless devices 24 are receiving signals (step S201; YES), the processor 11 determines whether or not the reception angles of the signals received by both wireless devices 24 satisfy the first condition (step S202).When it is determined that both reception angles of the signals satisfy the first condition (step S202; YES), the processor 11 proceeds to step S205.

[0096] On the other hand, if it is determined that at least one of the reception angles of the signal does not satisfy the first condition (step S202; NO), the processor 11 determines whether the reception angle and strength of the signal received by one of the two radio devices 24 satisfy the second condition (step S203).

[0097] If it is determined that neither the reception angle nor the intensity of the signals received by the two wireless devices 24 satisfy the second condition (step S203; NO), the processor 11 returns the process to step S201 and waits.

[0098] On the other hand, if it is determined that the receiving angle and strength of the signal received by one of the two radio devices 24 satisfy the second condition (step S203; YES), the processor 11 determines whether the receiving strength of the signal received by the other radio device 24 satisfies the third condition (step S204).

[0099] When it is determined that the reception strength of the signal received by the other wireless device 24 does not satisfy the third condition (step S204; NO), the processor 11 returns the process to step S201 and waits.

[0100] On the other hand, if it is determined that the reception strength of the signal received by the other wireless device 24 satisfies the third condition (step S204; YES), the processor 11 determines whether or not there is only one mobile terminal 3 that emitted the signal (step S205).

[0101] If it is determined that more than one mobile terminal 3 has emitted a signal (step S205; NO), the processor 11 performs a predetermined abnormality process (step S206), returns the process to step S201, and waits.

[0102] On the other hand, if it is determined that only one mobile terminal 3 has emitted a signal (step S205; YES), the processor 11 ends the process. In this case, the processor 11 recognizes that only one mobile terminal 3 that emitted a signal received by the wireless device 24 exists in the monitoring area.

[0103] By executing the above-described process, the control system 9 according to the present invention determines whether the transmitting mobile terminal 3 is in the monitored area using not only angle information but also intensity information of the signals received by the two radios 24 located on either side of the passage. This allows the control system 9 to recognize whether the mobile terminal 3 is in the first area R1 or the second area R2. Therefore, even if the determination regarding either area is disturbed and the reliability of the determination result is reduced, the control system 9 can maintain the robustness of the determination regarding the passage of the user carrying the mobile terminal 3.

[0104] Furthermore, the control system 9 can ensure a wider monitoring range than when only angle information of the received signal is used.

[0105] The configurations, shapes, sizes, and layout relationships described in the above embodiments are merely schematic illustrations to enable understanding and implementation of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the described embodiments, and can be modified in various forms without departing from the scope of the technical ideas set forth in the claims.

[0106] <Modification> The above is a description of the embodiment, but the contents of this embodiment can be modified as follows. In addition, the following modifications can be combined.

[0107] <1> In the above-described embodiment, the control system 9 includes a right-side device 2R and a left-side device 2L provided on the left and right sides of the aisle Pa so as to face each other, and each of the devices has a wireless device 24 provided at a location facing the aisle Pa. However, the locations at which the wireless devices 24 are provided are not limited to this. For example, the two wireless devices 24 described above may be provided above and below the aisle Pa, rather than being provided on the left and right sides of the aisle Pa.

[0108] <2> In the above-described embodiment, the server device 4 receives an inquiry from the control device 1 and authenticates the mobile terminal 3, and the control device 1 receives the authentication result from the server device 4 and controls the gate device 2. However, the authentication of the mobile terminal 3 may be performed by the control device 1. In this case, for example, authentication information may be included in a transmission signal such as an advertising signal contained in radio waves emitted by the mobile terminal 3. In this case, the control system 9 may not include the server device 4.

[0109] <3> The control device 1 and the gate device 2 may constitute a single device. For example, the functions of the processor 11 and the memory 12 of the control device 1 may be realized by the processor 21 and the memory 22 of the gate device 2.

[0110] <4> In the above-described embodiment, the control system 9 defines the area that is the union of the first area R1 and the second area R2 as the monitoring area for monitoring the location of the mobile terminal 3, but the monitoring area is not limited to this. For example, the control system 9 may set an additional area as a monitoring area on the entrance side in the traveling direction D1 of the passerby U.

[0111] 13 is a diagram showing an example of the additional region R3. As described above, when the processor 11 of the control device 1 determines that the angles of the signals received by both of the two wireless devices 24 are both within the angle range v1 (first range), it recognizes that the mobile terminal 3 that emitted this signal is present in the first region R1. In addition, the processor 11 in this modified example determines whether the angles of the signals received by both of the two wireless devices 24 are both within the angle range v2 (second range). Here, this angle range v2 is a range that is closer to the entrance of the passage Pa than the angle range v1.

[0112] When the processor 11 determines that the angles of the signals received by both of the two wireless devices 24 are both within the angle range v2, it recognizes that the mobile terminal 3 that emitted this signal is present in the additional region R3. Then, the processor 11 monitors the location of the mobile terminal 3, using the region obtained by adding this additional region R3 to the first region R1 and the second region R2 as the monitoring region.

[0113] 14 is a diagram showing an example of a monitoring area to which an additional area R3 has been added. As a result, the monitoring area is expanded toward the entrance in the traveling direction D1 of the passerby U, compared to the case shown in the embodiment. Since the passerby U walks along the traveling direction D1, expanding the monitoring area toward the entrance as in this modification allows the control system 9 to perform control that anticipates the passerby U.

[0114] The control device 1 that constitutes the control system 9 of this modified example is an example of a control device that determines whether or not a terminal that transmitted a signal can pass through the passageway when the angles of the signals received by both radio devices are within a second range that is closer to the entrance of the passageway than the first range, if there is only one terminal that transmitted a signal. [Explanation of symbols]

[0115] 1...control device, 11...processor, 110...acquisition unit, 111...first area monitoring unit, 112...second area monitoring unit, 113...identification unit, 114...passage permission determination unit, 115...opening / closing control unit, 12...memory, 13...interface, 2...gate device, 21...processor, 22...memory, 23...interface, 24...radio, 24L...radio, 24R...radio, 25...gate, 25L...gate, 25R...gate, 2L...left side device, 2R...right side device, 3...mobile terminal, 31...processor , 32...Memory, 321...Mobile terminal ID, 33...Interface, 34...Operation unit, 35...Display unit, 4...Server device, 41...Processor, 42...Memory, 421...Ticket DB, 4211...Mobile terminal correspondence table, 4212...Ticket data table, 43...Interface, 5...Communication line, 9...Control system, D1...Direction of travel, R1...First area, R2...Second area, R22R...Partial area, R23R...Partial area, R2L...Second area (left), R2R...Second area (right), R3...Additional area.

Claims

1. Two radios are placed on either side of the aisle and each receives a signal from a terminal. a control device that, when the angle of the signals received by both of the wireless devices respectively satisfies a first condition, or when the angle and strength of the signal received by one of the wireless devices satisfies a second condition and the strength of the signal received by the other satisfies a third condition, determines whether or not the terminal that transmitted the signal is allowed to pass through the passage if there is only one terminal; A control system having:

2. the first condition is a condition that angles of signals received by both of the wireless devices are both within a first range; the second condition is a condition that an angle of a signal received by one of the wireless devices is within a first range and a propagation distance according to the strength of the signal is less than a first threshold; The third condition is a condition that a propagation distance according to the strength of the signal received by the other of the wireless devices is less than a second threshold value that is smaller than the first threshold value. The control system of claim 1 .

3. The control device When the angles of the signals received by both of the wireless devices are within a second range that is closer to the entrance of the passage than the first range, if there is only one terminal that has transmitted the signal, it is determined whether or not the terminal is permitted to pass through the passage. The control system of claim 2 .

4. A gate is provided in the passage, The control device controls opening and closing of the gate based on the determination of whether or not the gate is open. A control system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

Images